Sponsor

Sponsor

Flashback: Photos from the 2008 Republican National Convention

The 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul was host to speakers such as John McCain and Sarah Palin. St. Paul businesses saw an increase in revenue, and local hotels were packed.

St. Paul also experienced some of the worst unrest and political protests in city history. Now, with the Democratic National Convention considering Minneapolis as its 2012 host city, we take a look back at how the RNC was received.

Gallery

Before the RNC, Aug. 31: Anti-war activists take part in a rally and march from the state capitol to the Xcel Center, the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention. A handful of protesters were taken into custody at the end of the march.Eric Thayer/Getty ImagesView full galleryDay 1 of RNC, Sept. 1: Police prepare for an anti-war protest in St. Paul that took place on the first day of the 2008 Republican National Convention.MPR Photo/Tim PostDay 2 of RNC, Sept. 2: Police tear gas protestors in the streets outside the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center.Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty ImagesDay 2 of RNC, Sept. 2: Police tear gas protesters in the streets outside the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center. The GOP will nominate U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as the Republican choice for U.S. President on the last day of the convention.Max Whittaker/Getty ImagesDay 3 of RNC, Sept. 3: Black clad police surrounded a detainee as a crowd in Mears Park chanted at them, demanding they release the man on the ground.MPR Photo/Tim NelsonDay 4 of RNC, Sept. 4: Bicycle police don gas masks during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. The police were out to due to a protest march that went from the State Capitol to 12th St. & John Ireland Blvd.MPR Photo/Steve MullisDay 4 of RNC, Sept. 4: Balloons and confetti drop from the ceiling at the end of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's speech at the Xcel Energy Center.Alex Wong/Getty ImagesDay 4 of RNC, Sept. 4: Police block passage down John Ireland Blvd. as a group of anti-war protesters were attempting to make their way towards the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.MPR photo/Caroline YangDay 4 of RNC, Sept. 4: A protester shouts during an anti-war rally near the State Capitol on the final day of the Republican National Convention in downtown St. PaulMPR photo/Caroline YangDay 4 of RNC, Sept. 4: St. Paul mounted police move in towards anti-war protesters near downtown St. Paul on the final day of the Republican National Convention.MPR photo/Caroline YangAfter the RNC, Nov. 12: A map of downtown St. Paul uses colored dots to show various protester groups that Sheriff Bob Fletcher said were trying to disrupt the convention.MPR Photo/Laura YuenAfter the RNC, Nov. 12: Investigators with the Ramsey County Sheriff's office have devoted an entire room to analyzing the events that occurred on Sept. 1. Sheriff Bob Fletcher points to a wall filled with the mug shots of individuals arrested on that day.MPR Photo/Laura Yuen